Newbie (relatively) question here . . . I often see bikes with tall 21" wheel/tires up front and I can't help but wonder how it affects the handling characteristics of the bike. Also, wide rear tires . . . does it tend to make the bike straighten up, or resist turning? Wide rear tires best for highway straight-aways? Thanks for the education guys, ride safe!

 

My sporty has the 21" narrow front tire. Sometimes I wish I had a fatter tire up front to help cushion rough roads. A fatter tire has more air in it than a skinny tire, so it helps absorb shocks...Plus I think a narrow tire makes a bike seem more top heavy than a wider front tire would.

 

A lot depends on the bike itself. I had a rigid frame chopper with a 19" front and a 16" 200 series on the rear. The bike didn't seem to corner as well when I switched to a 21" front but it was a very small difference. nothing drastic.

The 200 tire on the back had no trouble going around corners. I've ridden a bike with a 300 tire and didn't really care for the way it cornered. As far as "highway" stability, My RoadKing only has a 140/90 on the rear (05 rims and tires on a 99 model year). It handles just fine going down the road.

 

I have a couple of sporties, one with the standard stock tires, the other with the 21" narrow front. It seems like the 21" feels more stable in corners, and handles lighter, more nimble. It is more fun to dive into corners. However being slightly taller it would change the geometry a little, that could account for the difference.